Since I learned to read, I have been an avid reader. I wasn’t much of a writer until around high school, although my mom will be quick to point out I won a writing contest in second grade. It was a very short story, and yes, I beat out around 40 or 50 other second graders for the wonderful prize of a copy of Stuart Little!

In high school, I got into writing poetry. I even had a poem published (online) once. I wonder if I could even find where that was or if the website even exists today.

I started blogging when I was in college. It was partly a way to keep my family updated on my life, since I went to college in Maryland, a long way from home (California). While there have been breaks, blogging is something that I’ve done for a long time now at this point. I don’t think WordPress existed when I started my first blog!

Once, I attempted to write a short story/novella/novel. Ok, if I’m honest, it was never going to be longer than a short story. It was about salamanders. It was in a word doc and I have somehow lost that document. I’m not entirely sure if I’m sad or not.

I write because I can.

I write because I enjoy it.

I write to express myself.

I write for fun.

I write for work.

I write to leave my mark on the world.

Today’s #Bloganuary prompt: Why do you write?

And obviously, also my human friends and family, work, etc.

Today’s #bloganuary prompt – What brings you joy in life?

What is a treasure that’s been lost?

I’ll be honest, I’m not inspired by today’s #bloganuary prompt.

My snarky answer is, well, here’s a list of 30 “treasures” that are lost: 30 of the World’s Most Valuable Treasures That Are Still Missing. Or maybe this means the City of Atlantis?

Ok, ok. I know what they’re asking is for something that I consider treasured and lost. Perhaps it’s a forgotten memory (although how I’d know that’s lost, I’m not sure), or a person/relationship, or maybe a lost item?

I don’t find any of those interesting to write about. So let me share this story of a lost shoe (a Birkenstock no less!), instead. While it was not a treasure, it definitely was lost.

I was at The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and having a great time running around with my friend Jenny, and riding the rides, particularly the Logger’s Revenge, over and over.

At one point, we went on a ride called Typhoon. (The current ride Typhoon, that’s there now, is similar but not the same ride.) This is how I lost my shoe.

On the ride, Typhoon, you are in a cage that swings back and forth like a pendulum, building momentum until it finally goes all the way over. While we were briefly suspended fully upside-down at the top of the ride, my shoe came off. And it managed to fall through the cracks of the cage door. And it landed….. right on top of the center pillar of the ride.

Park employees were not willing (or able?) to go up there. So, my shoe was lost. I spent the rest of the day with only one shoe, and ran around barefoot.

“Rides at Santa Cruz Beach” by Chris Devers is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Horse!

I think I was around 3. Even though we lived in the city, for some reason, that day, we had our horse, Gypsy, in the backyard. I believe we were giving her a bath.

Sorry for the poor-quality image. That’s actually a photo of my dad’s TV playing home movies. I’m probably 8, and that’s my pony, Midget.

#bloganuary prompt of the day

What’s your earliest memory?